Conservatives Demand Government Cancel Carbon Tax Hike

OTTAWA—Conservative Shadow Finance Minister Pierre Poilievre called on the government to cancel the 50% increase in the national carbon tax, scheduled to take effect April 1st, 2020.

“A massive health and economic crisis is no time for tax hikes. Higher home heating and grocery prices will hurt households whose incomes have already plummeted. Higher energy prices will force businesses to further cut jobs, leaving manufacturing and energy workers even worse off than before.

When the COVID-19 lockdown ends, Canada will desperately need investment to restart our factories, mines and transportation businesses, so workers can return to jobs. Another hike in input taxes will only drive investors to put their money to work elsewhere and keep our workers unemployed longer.

In times of crisis, the government needs to drop its ideology and do what is practical. That means stopping the carbon tax hike. Workers, consumers and small businesses need a break now more than ever.”